, Aug. 31 -- Bangladesh's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 57.8 in July, pointing to a broad-based strengthening of the economy led by a rebound in manufacturing that coincided with the strongest monthly export earnings in nearly a year, according to a study unveiled on Monday.

The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), in association with Policy Exchange Bangladesh, presented the findings at a seminar at the MCCI office in Gulshan.

The presentation showed agriculture and services continued to expand in July, while construction activity remained only marginally below the neutral 50-point threshold that separates expansion from contraction.

Manufacturing led the recovery with a reading of 65.4, followed by service...